private The Fall of Andalasia ~Book 1~

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tulla thanked Dresden and headed over to the stables, gathering a few broken planks along the way. She set them down amd clicked her tongue for Tugg. He let out a low rumble and shot a tiny jet of fire; igniting the small pile.

 

Whisper frowned at Adrass but pushed his comment aside "If we blindly run into Ashcreek in the middle of the night, none of us may come back alive. Even you."

 

Her party healed to the best of her ability, the princess joined Lance, Helena and Robert. She scowled at his nickname for Clarke but found it best to keep her lips sealed. While he was talking to Helena, Whisper gingerly examined his mangled hand.

 

She had never heard of Lady Valentine before, but that was of no surprise to her. There was still so much for her to learn beyond the walls of her castle. Slowly the sinews of his hand began to stitch together.

 

"How do we get him back? From the forest?" She mumbled a little shakily.

 

Tulla had been listening quietly to thier conversation. As she stared into the flames before her, her mind drifted back to her dream. It was unsettling that she had been Queen of a kingdom. The Andalasian Kingdom no less. The last minutes of her ordeal, Tulla had raised a sword to the crowd. She knew the sword well.

 

Nephilim. Forged from the hide of an ancient dragon, imbued with unknown magicks. Blazingly silver with a smooth sapphire set in its hilt. She knew it because it hung between the thrones in court. It's sister sword, Ishtar was still at home in the courts of the Northern Lands.

 

But why did she have it?

 

Shaking the thoughts from her head, she passed the others and climbed into the loft. Though she was loathe to use magical items, doing anything else would help clear her mind.

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Dji @@Alex Kennedy @@Sanctified Absence @@Flying Ace @ @@Shadow Dancer

 

Lance grinned up at the stars he was throughly enjoying harassing these two, speaking to Robert, "Oh come on Tiger, what's the harm in a bit of nicknaming? It's pretty obvious you'll hate anything I call any of you, a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet, right? What's in a name anyways?" He stood up a little shakily and lead them to the ladder going up to trap door to the stables loft, "think about where you are, no thieves come way out her and we couldn't have customer stumbling across all these lost belongings if they were in the inn. The creepy nights and how close we are to tree line of the forest makes sure nobody snoops around out here, that and it was locked until I got out and went up there to patch up right before the Runt collapsed." He points to the bit of blood smears leading up the ladder.

 

"And take whatever you want it's not like the owners are coming back for it, and we usually sell the goods twice a year. It was approaching that time so it should be very well stocked, anything that suits you is yours." He gave a little flamboyant gesture up the ladder for them before turning to leave and receive Whisper's healing touch.

 

The healing was such soothing relief he practically groaned but he controlled himself, while he knew he was lewd and rude he like to think he was so in at least a more sophisticated way, at the very least not crude. He was so caught up in the feeling he almost missed her question, "Get him back? Who the Runt?... Uh sorry to break this to you Princess, I know you two were getting all googly eyed with each other, but that ship has sailed." He rubbed his good hand on the back of his neck actual feeling a bit sorry for her, of all the betrayals he committed and people he hurt it was the ones with relationships that were the hardest to see; he did passionately believe in love afterall. "I've only ever saved three people after the forest took them and they went limp like him, but by this point whatever drives him, his mind, soul, core life energy; whatever you want to call it, it's in the deepest part of the forest now, from what I can tell the path of the link leads to the Town of Ashcreek. We could bring any of those three back, two die of dehydration by the four night and the last one had his heart give out on the fifth day."

 

He reached out and puts his good hand on her shoulder meaning for it to be a comforting gesture, "Take sometime and make peace with him going tonight, we can give him a quick painless send off in the morning. It's all we can do for him, he'll just keep losing life energy otherwise."

[Sekel 692]

@@RunsWithSquirlz

Helena shrugged and climbed up the ladder. Apparently whatever they wanted was theirs. Reaching the top, she took a quick look around and saw Tulla there. "Oh hey Tulla. You looking for something?" Helena asked as she stepped to the side of the ladder. Looking around the loft, Helena began to rummage through the different trinkets and that to see if there was anything she liked. Spotting a clawed foot sticking out, she grabbed it and pulled it out. Once she did, Helena found it looking like a statue that had werewolf stuck in mid-transformation. "Huh. Seems like a werewolf transformation statue."

Edited November 10, 2014 by Dji

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

Robert entered the loft and looked around warily. Any of this stuff could be cursed or something for all he knew. And the bottles, he wasn't even going touch those. Somehow he didn't think they were filled with moonshine, as much as he would enjoy that.

 

Sorting through a pile of mostly junk, he noticed two things that caught his eye- a music box, which was sadly broken, and a small... what was it exactly? Some kind of ball thing, covered in sealed holes. He began to inspect the two more carefully, hoping for some clue that his experience as a bard and traveler might allow him to pick up on.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

He couldn't listen to any more of this: talk of reviving the dead by foul means and of spirits and sorcery. He was also still slightly in shock over the magical aptitude of the princess: the words that Zaddion had spoken to him rang in his ears - was she a greater threat than he had first thought? Was he truly protecting exactly that whaling he was sword to protect the land from?

 

What had he gotten himself into?

 

Instead, he busied himself with heading into the barn and inspecting the ill-gotten gains of the inn. He wasn't above stealing it looting: anything to help get the job done. No, his interest here was the magical aura, and finding what was useful from within.

 

Peeling off the most bloody of his clothes, he snatched up some dark replacements and dressed himself once again in clean garments, before donning a few pieces of leather over the top and finally swinging the longcoat back into its place, to conceal them. Even he had to admit, it felt good to be wearing something relatively cleaner.

 

He didn't like the idea of taking a weapon from this place - it would all too likely tainted with magic, given the aura here. Despite that though, he felt that having another spare might be helpful now that Tulla was carrying his own spare sword. Casting his eyes around, they fell on a dusty hilt producing from behind a broken crate. Stepping forward, the hunter snatched it up and looked it over appraisingly. It was old - as far as he could tell - and had stood the test of time well. A few scratches here and there were tell tale signs that it had seen battle, but it seemed as sturdy as one newly forged. It was larger than his own by a good inches, and wider too. It's balance was impeccable though - it moved just as easily as his own.

 

That was everything he needed. Let the others fight over which trinkets would look pretty as they killed them. Perhaps the Engineers cart still had done gunpowder he could use to refill his pistols? That would be useful...

 

As he made his way back towards the ladder, something caught his eye. Glass bottles filled with liquids, some of which looked familiar. He knelt down and picked up a couple.

 

The fiery liquid might well be alchemists fire if he was lucky, but what of the others? He eyed the clear and green liquids carefully, and the two types of metallic potion with even greater suspicion, trying to recall what he had been taught of alchemy, and what he had learned on his travels.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

"Well that will have to do, some cloths and armor would do us some good." I walked to the barn and looked around finding the loft shortly afterwards. I looked around and found some clothes, leather armor, amd a couple of decent daggars. Upon further inspection I found a strange egg like object who's name escaped my memory and when I picked it up it sounded like something was in it. I figured that would be good enough and left the loft putting the egg in a pouch on my leather armor.

Edited November 10, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

Slipping one of the clear vials and one of the fiery ones into the empty slots on his belt, Adrass pocketed the rest wordlessly - seeing no need to draw attention to them or his knowledge of their contents.

 

Even those that he couldn't identify we're doubtlessly safer in his care than left to the whimsy of thieves or Witches. Potions were more a creation of science than magic, he reasoned.

 

The jewellery though: that was something he wouldn't touch.

 

"We should go: I'll not have anything to do with these accursed trinkets. I'd suggest leaving them, and burning the building to the ground with them inside." He grumbled, eying the jewellery with deep-rooted suspicion as he made his way towards the ladder to search for the Engineers cart. Hopefully there would be something of use there as well. "Nothing good can come of it."

Edited November 10, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[Sanctified Absence 126]

Zaddion was about to rise from his seating position before a familiar pain coursed through his tender arms. Even with Whisper's Life Magick, which the Mage was beginning to lose trust in at an alarming rate, he wouldn't be much use to the party if he kept bleeding out every time he made himself even mildly useful.

 

If only he had access to more of the material that laced his arms, "Magickrystal," or simply "Krystal," it was fondly self-named. Of course, it was often made with the combination of a Magick-rich environment as well as the application of a Mage's skills. He could probably do it himself given the time, but there was still the problem of finding some for use in a Focus...

 

And the only place he could think of where one might have existed nearby could now be considered property of a dead man, a place of sentimental worth far beyond that which he'd consider safe to trespass. There was no doubt about it, Clarke's cart had to contain something, even if he mistook a natural Magickal formation for his Science.

 

Now wasn't the time for sentiment, he told himself as his body struggled to its feet. It would be much easier to overcome the potential grief and anger directed towards himself if this was done with quickly. Keeping this in mind as he blocked everyone else out, Zaddion activated his Magickal senses and quickly approached the cart, using what he'd remembered from watching Clarke to search through the complicated mechanisms for something, anything of true Magickal value. "I need a weapon. Sword, dagger, staff anything of suitable craftsmanship!"

Edited November 10, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Sekel 692]

Helena looked at thhe statue some more and just shrugged. Figuring it was worth it, she placed the wolf statue in her quiver and climbed down the ladder after Adrass. She didn't see anything she liked so having the wolf statue was the next best thing.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

PART 2: Ashcreek Forest & Beyond

 

The night before thier journey was a quiet one. Tulla agreed with Adrass and whatever they didn't take from the loft, she threw into the fire. She couldn't bring herself to burn down the stable itself; claiming that it should be left for whatever animals that wished to be sheltered from the elements. What they couldn't carry was stacked into Clarkes cart but after much trying no one could seem to get it to move on its own. So Tugg was delegated to pull the cart by muscle.

 

Ashcreek was eerily quiet, no birds or insects could be heard, only wind rustling the dead branches of trees. Whisper rode in the cart besides Clarke, holding his hand. She had been thinking about Lances words and how thier tinkerer would die whether she liked it or not.

 

And she didn't. And he wouldn't. She kept her hand on him while she stroked Finn with the other. The princess had been quietly sharing her life energy with Clarke, believing or hoping that if he was tied to her, the forest could not take him away. She was tired but didn't show it.

 

Tulla practiced with the sword, using trees as her dummies. It was thier second day in the cursed forest and she was already weary of all the silence and no signs of extra food.

 

On the night of the 2nd day, as they crouched around a small fire, wolves howled in the distance.

[Flying Ace 142]

@@RunsWithSquirlz, @@Torrent505 @@Sanctified Absence, @@Dji,@,@@Shadow Dancer, @@Alex Kennedy

Dresden shivered a little as the wolves howled it's been two days since they entered the forest and he sore as hell, ever since they entered the forest Dresden has been training non-stop; practicing his magic on the trees, and the enchanted ninja-esque outfit while not giving him much protection did not weigh him down. Dresden studied the fire for a second watching sparks fly out into the air only to put out seconds later. "This forest is so quite, has it always been like this?"

[Torrent505 370]

@@RunsWithSquirlz @@Dji @@Alex Kennedy @@Sanctified Absence @@Flying Ace @ @@Shadow Dancer

 

Lance looked about at the wolf's howl, his eyes never stayed still whenever they made camp, they always stayed moving scanning the darkness around them and occasionally looking behind him even. He address Dresden though, "Well Kid, it's been like this for a long time at least. Three hundred to five hundred years, the history books are a bit fuzzy on when the Town of Ashcreek became whatever it is today. But when it disappeared the woods changed, wild life here is either extra careful and timid or dangerous and viscous; it all that can survive out here."

 

His eyes stopped briefly on Robert, "Hey Tiger how about a song tonight? Something is stalking us out there and the music will either force a confrontation or scare it off. Hopefully the later but if not we can all be on edge for whatever it is."

[Sanctified Absence 126]

Waving his hands over the small pile of Krystal he had placed upon a cloth, Zaddion gently weaved patterns of subtle, white light around his soon-to-be focus materials. This was all he had been doing for the past few days when he wasn't moving or keeping his Magick senses alert, after all even Lance probably couldn't keep track of everything out there.

 

Unfortunately, this place was less flooded with Magick than the great libraries, towers and ritual chambers of his home, which was making the process far more time consuming, as if it wasn't already. He had to see this through, the Mage told himself, he couldn't steal from Clarke's most prized possession without a good reason, a sentiment that he was slowly faltering in keeping alive.

 

Zaddion wasn't like the great Enchanters that he had once met, his expertise was more with the direct manipulation of Magick rather than anything else, as such he did not have the skill nor complete knowledge to leave these Krystals open to the user's attunement, they would only function under Light.

 

"Perhaps..." Even he was surprised at his own break in silence, refusing to talk up until now for fear of other's current opinions of him had left the Mage's voice a little raspy, he cleared his throat, "perhaps a song wouldn't be such a bad idea, we could use the peace of mind and it's not like the things out there don't already know where we are."

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

@@Torrent505,@@Sanctified Absence,

 

Robert shrugged and took the lute from his back. "I don't normally do requests unless it's for a woman, so don't go thinking you can make a habit of this. But it just so happens I'm in the mood to play right now."

 

He slowly began to play and hum a rather sad tune. It wasn't normally his kind of music, but it was what came to him at the time.

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"Direwolves. From the sound of it..."Tulla sighed into the crisp air. Though the bard played a sad song, it was comforting in the least to hear music. Anything but the silence.

 

Tugg, free from his harness, plopped down heavily behind Robert. He enjoyed this humans strange noises. The princess sneezed lightly and tightened her grip on Clarke.

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

Adrass had become more reserved - if that were possible - since departing the inn. He could smell the stench of magic hanging around them: clearly his advice hadn't been heeded and somebody had brought some of the vile, cursed jewellery with them... their funeral, he supposed.

 

In the past couple of days, he had found himself questioning his loyalties once again. The Mage - Zaddion - had so far been reliable and honest, as far as the hunter could tell. His words about the princess ring true as well, which put the hunter on edge. This feeling of misdirection, not knowing who the true enemy was... this was why his people didn't question their duties and he was a fool for doing so!

 

Their guide made him uneasy, if only because folk tended to hold grudges for being maimed, however well they healed. A flow dancer wasn't a Mage either, so he would have to rely on skill alone should he be forced into conflict.

 

The sword he had reclaimed from the inn weighed heavily on his back, but it brought a feeling of reassurance that company alone never could. He had intended to reclaim his sword from the assassin, but something had happened that changed that.

 

The gun had changed that.

 

Every hunter carried with them a weapon: unadorned and unmarked. These were as much a part of a Witch Hunter as they were tools - a mark of ones self. When a hunter fell, it was this weapon that was returned to the Wrathspire to become one of the runic weapons that were so converted and respected. The sword was to be his own, until he discovered the gun.

 

He had been merely surprised at first - why was his name written on the plans? Was it intended for him? Why would anyone waste their time on such a thing? Eventually though, he stopped wondering. He wouldn't be finding out any time soon, so with a glance around he slipped it inside his coat and out of sight.

 

For whatever reason, this had seemingly been intended for him. He wasn't going to argue with fate: that was an impossible battle.

 

...

 

He hadn't argued with the mages as much, given his doubt. Simply done his job - kept watch and been prepared for attack. He watched the princess with a more wary gaze these days, and the Archmage less so. Did she really intend to bring back the dead? As much as the hunter wished to understand the engineers motives such deeds were unquestionably dark... surely is was kinder to let him rest in peace?

 

"Wolves we can handle." He noted, inclining his head slightly towards Tulla respectfully.

"I suspect that our bardic friend may be our best protection against whatever else is out here, if the rumours are true about this place."

Edited November 10, 2014 by Cinderscribe

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

"Sure, one or two of those brutes, no problem. But a pack of them can take down Tugg as easily as if he were a small child. With game being as scarce as it is, I'd imagine we seem quite tasty." She broke off a tsig and threw it into the flames.

 

Curiousity bit at her "Something bothering you, Zaddion? You seem more tuned out then usual."

 

As the notes carried themselves on thin air, something or things far in the bushes seemed to be copying them. A few seconds behind the original notes, and in varying pitches. Something copied Roberts music, and as it did, it skimpered closer and closer to hear better.

Edited November 11, 2014 by RunsWithSquirlz

[Sanctified Absence 126]

Zaddion cursed as the lights flickered and died, his concentration broken by an unexpected voice. It mattered little, at this rate he would never finish attuning the Krystal before they got out of the forest. He could've chuckled at her statement, despite his knowledge, the otherworldly nature of his craft left the Mage far less 'tuned in' than the others when a life wasn't at stake.

 

Drawing one of the two blades he had taken earlier, Zaddion answered without returning a gaze. "The same reason Adrass is." There was no point in hiding that he was concerned, but right now he didn't trust anyone, especially Tulla to react in a way that would be at all beneficial to the party. "There's... something following this group, something I'd rather not discuss now. If it becomes a problem, he and I will be the only ones able to deal with it."

Edited November 11, 2014 by Sanctified Absence

[Sekel 692]

Over the past couple of days, Helena felt extremely uneasy while travelling through Ashcreek. She kept her promise and kept her eyes trained on Lance while looking aroud for danger even though she knew Lance was looking out anyway. She sat near the fire and kept an eye on everyone.

@[memer=Torrent505]

Lance, what does a Flow Dancer do? I don't think I ever heard of your kind."

[RunsWithSquirlz 274]

Tulla didn't like his answer but she bit the inside of her cheek "If you say so, mage."

 

She kept her glare turned on the fire. Tulla kept her distrust to herself, the only one she seemed at ease around was Helena and possibly Dresden. To her, thwy were all a threat to the princess still.

[Shadow Dancer 111]

For the last two days I never really talked just looked at the egg on ocasion, and kept closed in like I usually did before. I still could not figure a thing out about the egg, but it kept my mind busy. Well that and trying to improve my sight spell, I did not make much progress there but I was not to adept at too much magic so that was to be expected.

 

I noted that the party members did not really trust each other, it was not hard to pick up as how they moved or reacted the few times we talked, but I could not say it was unexpected. I just kept asking myself why a mismatched group of people like us ended up together to protect a princess? It was one thing that my mind bugged me with, our group could end up killing each other in a second. If this was some damned gods doing then they are cruel.

 

I looked at the fire as I sat on its edge looking out partial glad none spoke often and partially restless because of it.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Shadow Dancer

[Alex Kennedy 1,228]

It took a while for Robert to notice something was mimicking his music. When he did, it rather worried him. "Um... maybe the ones around here are special, but wolves aren't usually very musical creatures, are they? Is anybody else getting a bit worried about whatever's out there? Wolves I can deal with, but... I'm not so sure these are wolves."

[Torrent505 370]

Lance answered Helena while focusing on something outside the firelight, "Do? We can do a lot, but we're known for being able to see energy. Even potential energy, or especially potential energy because we're raised to read what that energy is going to do and respond before it happens. We read the Flow of the world and fluidly Dance to avoid it, path of least resistance and such. Basically one on one our warriors are almost unstoppable and a master can fight through an army without being touched. Supposedly our order can see the flow and energy of nations, they do quiet small actions to shape the world to their design... Not that I would know, I was only just fully trained by the order before they felt giving me as a slave to a District Lady was the proper Flow for me..."

 

He stopped staring in to the woods to focus on Helena, realizing how serious he was being he adopted his signature smirk and decided to make up for the moment, "though the best way I could describe it Honey is if you were to come against me in a battle, I would know every move before you make it and hit you just right each time, I'd match your pace and wear you down thrust by thrust, picking you a part until you're nothing but a shuddering puddle. There's no man that compares to a flow dancer." He winked at her.

 

Chuckling he returned his gaze to the thing beyond the camp light making the noises. Speaking to Robert, "I wouldn't worry too much Tiger, mimicry is the best form of flattery after all right? Sounds playful maybe it's just a mimic?... If it starts actually singing before you do or adds to the song then we can worry, Spirits will do that... One of them-, we'll I know i'ver heard her singing nursery rhymes."

 

Suddenly he jerked his head to stare at Helena's bag, "Hon, you got something alive in your bag?... Cause is wasn't letting off energy like that before." In the distance there was another wolves howl.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Torrent505

[Sekel 692]

@@Torrent505

"What? No, of course not." Helena remarked and lifted out the wolf statue. "This is what was in my bag." Helena said and placed it on the ground. "That's why you felt energy flowing through it. It's actually alive." Helena answered and looked closely. She saw it look to her, then growls as it looks out towards the howling and back to her. "I think that howling may be something bad. According to the wolf." Helena told them, not even batting an eye at the revelation that the statue was alive.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Dji

[The Elusive Cinder 1,328]

Adrass.

 

Adrass shook his head - staring into the fire. He wasn't truly listening: as had been becoming more frequent in the past couple of days. He was clothed, armed and healthy, almost feeling five years younger for his situation. He fount his thoughts wandering once again, as they tended to do on nights like this.

 

Something about the dancing flames, the elegance and their energy - the life and the light and the beauty of them as they crackled in the dark - had him captivated once more as the voices around him became a dull echo that might as well have been from another world. Had had shut out those thoughts long ago: killed the memories that should never have come to exist in the first place...

 

So why had they returned so vividly in these past few weeks?

 

It must be these accursed mages. He reasoned weakly. All of this magic around me: it's bad for the mind. Rots the brain. No wonder they think such foolish thoughts.

 

Deep down though, he know it was nothing of the sort.

 

She had broken him - turned his razor-edged faith into questions and uncertainty. She had genuinely made him believe that the order might have been wrong: that his entire life might have been a lie. She had corrupted his every thought and even now - when he had seen her true colours and many years had passed - he still found the fire as enrapturing as he had way back then.

 

"Bloody Witches." The hunter muttered under his breath - blinking but failing to tear his eyes away from the fire. She was dead - of that he was certain. Had she thought him dead also? Surely she couldn't have realised how her actions would affect him. How she had only served as a reason for his faith never to be shaken again.

 

Yet even now, he knew that hatred and regret only made up half of his feelings towards the woman he had once known: and he loathed himself for it.

Edited November 11, 2014 by Cinderscribe